BAGUIO CITY: All national roads and bridges in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) are now passable, although there are continuing works in some areas, according to the regional Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

According to Philippines News Agency, DPWH-CAR director Khadaffy Tanggol stated in an interview on Monday that there are certain areas where remnants of road or rock erosions remain due to tropical cyclones Kristine and Leon. “All the roads reported to have incurred landslides, rockslides, road slips, and others that rendered the roads closed or not passable from Oct. 24 during typhoon Kristine are now open and accessible to motor vehicles,” he mentioned.

Although most roads are open, Kennon Road remains a concern. The newly constructed acrow bridge along Kennon Road, previously damaged by an earlier weather disturbance, is currently open only to light vehicles and is limited to one-lane access. Tanggol advised, “We advise the public to take alternate roads because many portions
of Kennon still have loose soil and there are falling stones or rocks along the whole stretch.”

Reports indicate that as of noontime Monday, there were 143 road closure incidents in national roads across the six provinces and two cities of the region, all of which have been addressed by the DPWH-CAR. The total damage cost due to the weather disturbances is estimated at PHP147.17 million, with PHP55.57 million attributed to road damages and PHP91.6 million to flood control projects.

The province of Kalinga suffered the most significant road damages amounting to PHP30.5 million, while Mountain Province’s second district experienced the highest flood control damage, totaling PHP76.6 million. Tanggol further explained, “Based on initial estimates, the total fund needed to restore the damaged infrastructure to its original state or in a better condition is PHP441.87 million.”